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Widow pledges to spend 2008 fundraising for Headingley hospice
A widow who pledged to spend 2008 raising funds for Wheatfields Hospice has already collected more than £1,000 for the charity -just three months after vowing to repay the "angels" who cared for her husband.
Christine Mabbett raised 800 just from holding a raffle in memory of her late husband Garry, who died at the hospice last June after a three-year fight against a brain tumour.
With the help of sons Lee, 37, and Paul, 25, who are planning to complete a gruelling triathlon to raise extra funds, Christine has organised a Race Night in her home town of Morley on March 1.
She will also complete the Leeds Hospices Midnight Walk in May with her West Highland terrier, Lily, to raise funds for Sue Ryder Care Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley and St Gemma's in Moortown.
She said: "Lily was there for Garry so for her to do the walk is fantastic. I'd recommend the Midnight Walk to anyone, it's a great way of exercising, making money and having a natter all at the same time.
"Garry called the nurses his angels and after he died my sons and I said that we would have to do something to say thank you to Wheatfields, as they were fantastic.
"They looked after Garry and they looked after me as well. Without their support and help I don't know how I would have got through the last few weeks of his life.
"At first it was just the raffle, but people were so generous, I decided to do more. By the end of the year, I'm hoping to raise at least 10,000."
The fundraising year will culminate in a special memorial concert to Garry, which is expected to be held at a hotel in Leeds in September.
There will be another event to mark the first anniversary of his death in June, as well as a fancy dress pub crawl around Morley, Churwell and Drighlington in May.
Christine, who is supported by colleagues in Leeds City Council's Business Support Centre, said: "It's hard work organising the events but I'm really enjoying it.
"The fundraising has given me something to focus on and I'll probably carry it on next year. It's very therapeutic."
* To enter the Leeds Hospices Midnight Walk on Saturday, May 17, visit: www.leedsmidnightwalk.co.uk
Alternatively, call (0113) 2185570 or (0113) 2033377.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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